High-speed lidder



March 10, 1953 G. E. THOiRNTON ET AL 2,630,566

HIGH-SPEED LIDDER Fil ed Feb. 9, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

JOHN El I AEDS ATTOE/VEY March 10, 1953 G. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,630,566

HIGH-SPEED LIDDER Filed Feb. 9, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N VEN T025 GARNO E. THORNTON EEIVES TA. VEEE/NDEZ 640w 5 sr/z W5; A 5 434 5 u. M 63/! TH FIG 11 JOHN 2. RICHARDS 274 ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 a. E. THORNTON ET AL 2,530,566

HIGH-SPEED LIDDER Filed Feb. 9, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 a N/V 5. s 771. W61. L

EARL 5 J. M2 619A TH JOHN R. ,e/HAeos ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 G. E. THORNTON ETAL 2,630,566

HIGH-SPEED LIDDER Filed Feb. '9, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 9 I I m m mmmu m W 9 M gm W? R Z 5 G 0 5 fl: 3 in? r 5 W MSM M 7 0 w H is... 7 3 e 7. 1.. 9 3 0 E 5 M a Y 8 3 I fi =lm m m B M m P Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE HIGH-SPEED LIDDER poration of Delaware Application February 9, 1950, Serial No. 143,322

13 Claims. (El. 1-10) This invention relates to lidding machines for lidding wooden boxes, and operates on the same broad principle as the machine for this purpose disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,084,048, issued June 15, 1937, to Hale Paxton et al.

The objects of the present invention include the following:

1. To provide such a lidding machine which will be relatively rapid in operation, thus having a high capacity.

2. To provide such -a machine through which box-es may be optionally fed at a rapid rate without lidding the same.

3. To provide such a machine which automatically lids and discharges a box therefrom upon the delivery of a box thereto.

4. To provide such a machine having any of the foregoing characteristics and which is readily adjustable for various boxes differing in l ngth and depth.

5. To provide such a machine having a relatively high capacity, but which will function equietly and without excessive vibration.

6. To provide such a machine which is adjustable to adapt it to handling boxes varying considerably in height, and having a power means contained in the machine for accomplishing this adjustment.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodim ent of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the device for yieldably with-drawing the stops from the path of boxes as a lidding cycle is started.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 1 with parts of the structure broken away to illustrate the box stop mechanism, seen from the front, with a box stopped in the proper position for initiating a lidding operation, but prior to the start of that operation.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the nailing table of the machine starting upward with a box resting thereon and with the stops withdrawn from the path along which said box will be discharged after it has been lidded.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 8-6 of Fig. 2, and

diagrammatically illustrating the stop and elevator control mechanism.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged plan view of the hydraulic pump unit of the machine and is taken approximately on the line 'l'! of Fig. 1 with the lid of the liquid tank containing said unit removed therefrom.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the control valve of said hydraulic unit and is taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional detail view of i one of the stops of the invention and is taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view taken on the line l0l 0 in Figs. 6 and 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view taken on the line I l--| I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view similar to the right half of Fig. 4 and illustrates the operation of the device for withdrawing the stops from the path of boxes to permit these to travel straight through the machine without being lidded.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a modified hydraulic system which is used in said machine.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the control system of the invention.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 1 and shows the chuck beam controlling dash-pot of the invention.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the delivery end of an accumulator conveyor for feeding boxes to the machine and shows the relation of the nailing table of the machine and a latch provided thereon with said accumulator just following the delivery of a box from the latter into said machine.

Fig. 17 is substantially a front el-evational view of the accumulator conveyor shown in Fig. 16, and is taken on the line l'l|'l thereof.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line l8-|8 of Fig. 1'? and showing one of the shiftable stops provided on the afore said accumulator conveyor.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention is there shown as embodied in a high speed lidder 20 (Fig. 1) having a frame 2| which includes a base structure 22 and a super-structure 23. Mounted on the base structure :22 is a box conveying and elevating mechanism 24. Mounted on the super-structure 23 is a lid holding and nailing mechanism 25. Associated with mechanisms 2d and 25 for controlling the operation thereof is a control system 26 (Fig. 14).

The frame 21 The frame base structure 22 (Fig. 1) includes foot plates from which base standards 3i and 32 extend upwardly. Opposite ends of a mounting platform 33 (Fig. 1) rest on and are welded to said foot plates. Upper ends of the standards 3i and 32 are welded to horizontal plates 34 and 35 (Fig. 2).

The frame superstructure 23 includes four angle iron posts 36 (Fig. 1), the lower ends of which fit into the four corner angles of the base structure 22 and are adjustably secured thereto by bolts 31 (Fig. 2) so as to vary the height that the nailing mechanism is supported above the base structure 22.

Upper ends of the front pair of corner posts 38 and of the rear pair of said posts are connected together by longitudinal members 33.

Box conveying and elevating mechanism 24 Included in the elevating mechanism 24 (Fig. 1) is a hydraulic jack 39 (Fig. 1), a hydraulic pump unit 49, and an electric motor ll, all of which are mounted on the mounting platform 33. The mechanism 2% also includes a chain conveyor 42 (Fig. 2) which is mounted on a pair of transverse bars t3 and Q 3, opposite ends of which abut against horizontal plates as and 35 and are secured thereto by cap screws 65.

Hydraulic elevator 39 This includes a jack 5!) (Figs. 5 and 12), with a plunger 5| upon the upper end of which is mounted a nailing table 52. The nailing table has a rectangular frame 53 (Fig. 2) which fits closely within the inner angles of the corner posts 36 and is held out of engagement with said posts, and guided vertically thereon, by rollers 5 mounted on the four corners of the frame 53.

Frame 53 includes end bars 55 and front and rear bars 56 (Fig. 2), the latter resting in their lower positions on the fixed bars 43 and 44 (Fig. 5) and being connected centrally by a pair of bars 51 which are welded thereto and to a plate 5% which is secured by bolts 59 to a flange 58a provided on the top of the jack plunger 5!. Supported on the front and rear bars 555 (Fig. 2) is a pair of anvil bars 69 and 66, op-

posite ends of the latter extending over and resting on the bars 56 and being secured thereto by clamps 62 (Fig. 6) which are provided on the bars 60 and Eli and engage the under faces of the bars 56. The bars as and 5&3 are provided with box guides 53 (Fig. 5) which are adapted to center a box on the anvil bars 69 and 60' when these bars are properly spaced apart for receiving a box of that particular length.

Hydraulic pump unit This unit (Fig. 7) is enclosed in a rectangular tank 68 and includes a pump 69 located within and mounted on one wall of this tank, the shaft ill of said pump extending outside of said tank and carrying a triple sheave H The pump 62 has a screened suction intake 72 and a discharge pipe 73 which connects with a valve M to discharge liquid into valve passage 75 (Fig. 8) which has a by-pass opening 16 and connects with a pipe H which leads to the lower end of the jack (Fig. 1).

The valve 14 (Fig. 8) has a body it with a vertical valve bore l9 with which the by-pass passage 16 connects, and which also has a 4 threaded by-pass outlet opening into which a pipe 8| fits which discharges into the tank 68 (Fig. 7). The valve H has a spool plunger 32 which is held downwardly yieldably by a spring 83 in a closed position in which an upper piston 84 of the plunger 82 covers and closes the bypass opening 16. Extending upwardly from the plunger 82 is a control stem 85 which extends through packing 86 mounted on the cover $1 of the tank 68. It is thus clear that with the valve plunger positioned as shown in Fig. 8 fluid discharged from the pump 69 passes through the valve 14 and into the jack 58 to cause the nailing table 52 to be lifted by this jack. When the spool plunger 82 is raised to connect the by-pass opening 16 with the bypass outlet 80 and discharge pipe Bl, the pump fluid by-passes into the tank 68 and, if the nailing table 52 is raised, this descends, forcing the liquid in the jack 50 below the plunger 5! outwardly through the pipe 11, passage 16, bore (9, outlet 80 and pipe 8| of the valve '14 into the tank 68.

Motor 41 This motor (Fig. 1) has a quadruple sheave 99 (Fig. 2) which is radially aligned with and connected to the pump sheave H by V-belts 9!. A fourth belt 92 connects the sheave 42 with a single sheave 93 of a gear box 94 mounted on the base structure standard 32 and which in turn drives a shaft 95 having a sheave 9G. The shaft 95 also extends outwardly through the standard 32 where it carries a sprocket 9?.

Mounted in bearings I00 (Fig. 2) is a nail hopper operating shaft [0| having cranks m2 at its opposite ends and a sprocket I03 which is radially aligned with and connected to the sprocket 91 by a chain I04.

The box conveyor 42 includes a shaft Hi5 (Fig. 2) which journals in suitable bearings 23a and 44a provided on the transverse bars 63 and i t, this shaft having sprockets I06 and a pulley E91, the latter being connected by a belt 108 to the pulley 96. Endless chains I09 are trained about sprockets I06 and suitable idle sprockets Hifia which are mounted on inner faces of bars 43 and E l at the opposite ends thereof.

The upper flights of chains I89 ride on suitable tracks T fixed on the bars 43 and 46 so as to provide horizontal support for boxes carried on said conveyor.

When the nailing table 52 is in its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 1, the box supporting surfaces of the upper flights of the conveyor chains I09 are disposed at a level slightly above the upper surfaces of the anvil bar-s Ell and 60', the purpose of this being made clear hereinafter.

Nailing mechanism 25 This includes two units H0 and III which are reverse duplicates of each other with the exceptions to be noted hereinafter. Each of the units H0 and Ill include a. nail driver beam H2 (Figs. 1 and 15) opposite ends of which rest on the members 38, and are secured thereto by clamps H3. Secured to each of the opposite ends of the beam H2 and extending downwardly therefrom just within the adjacent member 38 and clamped thereto is a gib bar H having a stop H5 on its lower end. Each beam l #2 is provided with' a bank of nail drivers D which extend downwardly. therefrom,

Disposed between and slidable vertically on gib bars H4 is a chuck beam H6 which carries a bank of chucks 0 into which the aforesaid drivers slidably extend to drive nails therefrom as clearly illustrated in the aforesaid Paxton patent. A pair of compression spring elements III have their upper ends pivotally connected t a plate (not shown) which in turn is pivoted o the adjacent driver beam I I2. The lower ends of the elements II! are pivoted to opposite ends of the chuck beam II'B. Mounted in suitable apertures provided in the chuck beams iit of the units Ill) and III are two shafts lie on which are mounted collars I these collars being connected by a transverse bar IZI (Figs. 1 and 15). Extending between and secured to members 38 as by cap screws I22 are transverse bars I23 on which is mounted a dash pot IZli including a cylinder I25 having upper and lower heads I re and I21 and a piston I28 mounted on a piston rod I29 which extends downwardly through the head I21 and is secured at its lower end to the transverse bar I2 I. Extending vertically through the piston I28 are by-pass passages to which are closed durin downward movement of said plunger by a clapper valve I3! held upwardly against the bottom face of the piston by a spring I32. 0n the upward movement of the piston. this valve readily yields allowing fluid to bypass the piston I28. Downward travel of the piston I25 and the cylinder !25 is retarded by the necessity for liquid contained in th cylinder beneath the piston to flow to the top side of the piston through a restricted passage I33.

Adjustably fixed upon the bar I2: (Figs. 1 and 15) and disposed just below this is a crown sheet I34 for shaping the lid of an overfilled box when this is being lidded.

Each of the nailing units II!) and ill is supplied with nails in the wellknown manner by a nail pick device Idil (Fig. 1) on which a pick bar MI is pivotally mounted, this pick bar being Control system 26 Secured to the right chuck beam us of the unit III is an apertured rod guide (Figs. 1 and I l) while extending upwardly from the same chuck beam is a release finger I53. Fixed on the nail feed I46 of unit III and. extending downwardly therefrom is an arm Iiitl having an adjustable stop I fixed on the lower end thereof and pivoted thereto just above this stop is a dog I55. Pivoted on the same nail feed MI) is a trigger I5! which is yieldably held by a spring I58 to swing this trigger against and. into the path of the dog I 53 so as to limit the upward movement of the latter. The trigge I5! has a lug I60 thereon which. is disposed directly above the finger I53 so that at the upper extremity of movement of the chuck beams He in a lidding operation, the finger i53 engages the lug I60 and swings the trigger Itll away from above the dog I56. The significance of this action will be made clear hereinafter.

A sim- Pivotally connected to the dog I56 by a clevlS I6I at its upper end is a threaded rod I62 carry ing a nut I53 and which extends. downwardly through the apertured rod guide I52. This rod has a collar Id ibeneath said guide and'a compression spring I55 coiled thereabout between the nut I63 and the guide I52. At its lower end the rod I62 connects through a universal coupling I66 with a rod I61. At its lower end the rod I61 screws into a sleeve I58 having a crosshead I69 on its lower end.

Just above the cross-head I69, the sleeve 5 extends through an elongated aperture in an arm I (Figs. 1 and 14) extending rearwardly from a shaft I16, opposite ends of which journal in bearings H1 fixed on inner faces of base structure standards 3[ and 32. The shaft I'IS also has fixed thereon an arm Il'B which extends forwardly and has an elongated aperture for receiving the upper end of a rod I79 having a crosshead I!!!) on the upper end thereof and which extends through an apertured guide I iiI, the latter being fixed on plate 35 and extending rearwardly therefrom.

Below guide I8I (Figs. 1 and 14) the rod I751 is provided with a collar I82 and has a compression spring I83 coiled thereabout between said collar and the guide I8I. At its lower end the rod I19 pivotally connects with an arm 18% fixed on a pedal shaft I85, opposite ends of which journal in bearings I56 which are mounted on. the base structure standards 31 and 32. Also fixed on shaft I85 and extendin forwardly therefrom is a foot pedal I ill, b which the control mechanism 26 is manipulated b the operator.

Also fixed on shaft I It (Figs. 1 and 14) are lock collars I and [90' which are substantially cylindrical, but are milled away (Fig. 6) to form. like lock shoulders I9I and I8! on the spective peripheral faces thereof.

Shaft I15 also carries a valve actuating arm I92 which extends inwardly therefrom and. is connected by a short chain I93 (Fig. 6) to the upper end of the valve stem 85 (Figs. 6 and 8).

Pivoted in brackets I95 (Figs. 1, 2 and 14) fixed on the standards 3! and 32 are bell crank levers I91 and Iilii corresponding ends of which are bifurcated and pivotally connected to opposite ends of a shaft I99.

Fixed on the shaft I98 near its middle is a collar 2GB and coiled about this shaft between said collar and bar 44 is a coiled compression spring 2BI It is now desired to point out that box. stops 202 and 262 are associated respectively with the anvil bars BI] and 6G and the system 26 includes stop control mechanisms 203 and 203' associated respectively with these stops and each or" which is a reverse duplicate of the other. It is thus believed that a description of the stop control mechanism 253 will Sufiioe for both of these mechanisms and it will be understood that reference to any element of the mechanism 2&3 will. be by use of the same numeral as has been applied to the corresponding element of mechanism 203, with prime attached.

Stop control mechanism 203 Supported on the shaft I99 (Figs. 3 and 14) by pairs of links 206 and slidable vertically between the base standard 3| and bar 43 is a control track 201. Opposite ends of this track are guided by pairs of blocks 20B and 209 which are secured respectively to the base standard 3! and bar 43.

Pivotally mounted in bearings 250 and 2!! which are secured respectively to the base stand* ard 3| and bar 43 is a shaft 2! 2 having welded V thereto a latch 2I3 (Fig. 6), a cam 2M, and a spring arm 2l5. Secured to said spring arm is a spring 2H6 which is also attached to a cotter 2i? in the plate 35 (Fig. 2) so as to yieldably rotate the shaft 212 to hold the latch 2| 3 against the lock collar I90.

Extending downwardly from the anvil bar 66 (see Figs. 3, 6, and 9) are bearings 226, 226, and 227 in which a shaft 228 journals. This shaft has fixed thereon a block 229 having a threaded stud 236 (Fig. 10). The stud 230 carries a sleeve 23! and a washer 232 and a nut 233. Freely rotatable about the sleeve 23| and trapped between the washer 232 and the block 229 is a block 236. The latter block has an apertured lug 235 welded thereon and a channel 236 milled in its outer face. Welded to the block 234 within the channel 236 are studs 23! and 238. Slidably fitting into the channel 236 is a stop mounting arm 22% having apertures 24! and 242 which loosely receive the studs 23'! and 238. An upper end portion 243 of the arm 240 is bent downwardly and inwardly over the anvil bar 60 and has the stop roller 262 rotatably mounted thereon in a plane parallel with said arm portion 243 (Fig. 9).

The stud 23'! has lock nuts 245 for limiting play of the arm 246 thereon. The stud 236 has lock nuts 246 which trap washers 2 37 and 2 33 and a coiled compression spring 2&9 between said nuts and the top mounting arm 236. The spring 239 yieldably holds the arm 24!! in the channel 236 but permits it to rock outwardly therein until it engages the lock nuts 245. The lower end of the arm 240 is beveled as indicated at 256 (Fig. 9) to facilitate this rocking movement.

Also fixed on the shaft 228 (Fig. 3) is an arm 2% carrying a roller 26l which normally rides upon the control track 261. Pivoted on the arm 269 is block 262 having a threaded stud 263 which extends upwardly through an angle bracket 264 secured on the anvil bar 66. The upper end of the stud 263 carries lock nuts 265. Trapped between the block 262 and the bracket 26 i is a compression spring 266 which yieldably urges the arm 26!] to swing downwardly and thus L.

rotate the shaft 226 to swing the arm 226 and stop 202 mounted thereon outwardly from the position in which these parts are shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 9.

Pivotally mounted on the anvil bar 66 by a cap screw 26? (Figs. 6 and 11) is a control lever 263, the upper end of which is connected by a contractible spring 269 to a screw 276 which helps secure box guide 63 in place on the anvil bar 66. The lever 268 has welded thereto a lug 2'5! and the lower end thereof has a foot piece 272 ad- J'ustably secured thereto by a cap screw 2T3. Mounted on the foot piece 212 is a roller 224.

Provided on the anvil bar 66 i a stop 215 against which the spring 263 swings the lever 266 as shown in Fig. 6. The foot piece Hz is vertically adjusted, when the lever is in this position, so that the roller 274 lightly rests on the cam 2E6 without actuating the latter.

Secured to the lug 235 and 2?! are flexible couplings 280 and 28| which are connected by a turnbuckle 282 whereby the rocking of the arm 236 by horizontal movement of the stop 202, when the latter is engaged by a box entering the machine, rotates the lever 268 and causes the roller (ill 2'54 to depress cam 2! thereby rocking shaft 2 l2 and pushing latch 213 downwardly out of engagement with shoulder IQ! of the lock collar I90.

Operation The lidder may be hand-fed by the operator, from a gravity conveyor leading up to the machine, by pushing boxes onto the conveyor 22 so that these will be picked up by the chains I09 and carried therealong until the box engages the roller stops 262 and 202 with the latter positioned as shown in Figs. 2 and 6 and thus swing the stop mounting arms 240 and 2 30' to shift the rollers 2'14 and 274' against the cam 2i 3-2i4 thereby rotating the shafts 2i2-2l2 and r0- tating the latches 2|3-2I3 to unlock the lock collars 196-190. Nothing will happen in response to the series of actions just outlined unless and until the operator depresses the foot pedal i875. When this is done, the rod I19 is lifted thereby releasing the arm I18 from the crosshead E66 and permitting the spring 33 of the valve Hi to pull the valve plunger 82 downwardly into the position in which this is shown in Fig. 8. This action of the valve 74 takes place the instant that the shaft I16 is freed from restraint by the latches 2| 3 and 2|3' and the cross-head lite on the rod H9.

If the operator wishes the lidder to function immediately upon a box engaging the stops 222-262 and swing these forwardly, he merely maintains his foot on the pedal It? so as to keep the cross-head I30 constantly elevated so that the shaft H6 will be unrestrained when the latches 253 and 2l3' are lowered by the box engaging stops 262-262.

As previously noted, the lowering of valveplunger 64 to the position in which this is shown in Fig. 8 closes the by-pass opening 16 in this valve, thereby propelling the oil discharged from the pump into the pipe 13 through the passage it into the pipe ll and the bottom of the jack 56.

Actuation of valve 14, as shown in Fig. 8, to compel the liquid from the pump 69 to be delivered to the jack causes the nailing table 52 to be rapidly lifted. This movement proceeds only a fraction of an inch before the anvil bars 66-63 rise into contact with the bottom of the box carried on the conveyor 52 so as to lift this box from the conveyor causing it to rest thereafter during the lidding operation on the anvil bars 66-60 (compare Figs. 4 and 5). The initial portion of the upward travel of the nailing table 52 also results in the rollers ESE-26! being lifted out of engagement with the control tracks 267-267 with the result that the shafts 228- 223' are rotated to swing the stops 262-262 outwardly from in front of the box resting on the anvil bars 63-66. With the stop thus removed from in front of the box the springs 263-269 pull the stops 262-282 rearwardly alongside the box resting on the nailing table 52.

The elevator continues upwardly, it being understood that a lid has been positioned overlying the box and preferably resting on devices provided for supporting the lid in the proper posi tion over the box as shown in the aforesaid U. S. Letters Patent to Hale Paxton.

The rising box is thus caused to engage the lid and the lid ends are compressed between the chuck beams I I6 and the ends of the box to press these lid ends on the box ends and lift the chuck beams to drive nails through the lid ends into the box ends.

The rising of the chuck beams H6 during the lid nailing operation causes the piston I28 (Fig. of the dash-pot I24 to rise and the clapper valve I3I to open. The dash-pot I24 thus offers little resistance to the upward travel of the chuck beams II6. As these beams start upward, the rod guide I52 travels upward therewith thereby compressing the spring I65 against the nut I63 until a considerable upward pressure is built up against said nut. Upward movement of the rod I62 in response to this pressure is prevented by the dog I56 engaging the trigger I51 with the latter positioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 14.

At the completion of the upward movement of the nailing table 52, which takes place just as the nails are driven home through the lid ends as shown and described in said Paxton patent and into the box ends, the release finger I53 engages the lug I60 rocking the trigger Itl away from over the dog I56 whereupon the rods I62 and I61 and sleeve I68 are snapped upwardly under the pressure applied thereto by the spring I65.

This snap action is transmitted through the cross-head I69 and arm I15 to the shaft I16 to rotate the latter and lift the spool plunger 82 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8 to an upward neutral position permitting the liquid in the jack 50 beneath the plunger 5| to escape through the pipe I1, the opening I6, the valve bore 19, and pipe 81 into the tank 68 with relatively little restraint. This actuation of the valve thus results in the nailing table 52 and the lidded box resting thereon dropping rapidly. This rapid starting of the down movement of the elevator greatly increases the capacity of the machine. This could not be done, however, with the lid pressing and nailing mechanism 25 free to follow the box downwardly at such a rapid rate, as the impact of the chuck beams H6 against the stops H5 at the lower end of the gib bars H4 would produce an intolerable noise and vibration andproduce strains resulting in rapid wear and frequent breakage of parts thus subjected to undue strain. To avoid these things and facilitate the elevator descending at the maximum practical speed, the dash-pot I24 is provided to retard the return downward of the nail chucks '6 whereby these are gently lowered until they come to rest against the stops II5 while the box leaves contact with the chuck beams II6 immediately upon the operation of the snap action valve control as above described.

It is to be noted that the mechanisms 263 and 203' each act to latch the valve 14 in neutral position and the shaft I'I6 will not be freed so that it may be rotated by the valve spring 83 until both of the stop control mechanisms 263 and 203' are actuated by a box engaging and shifting both of the stops 262 and 202, as shown in Fig. 4. This assuresthat a lidding operation will not be performed upon a box until it is properly positioned in the machine.

Occasionally, filled boxes which it is not desired to lid are placed on the same conveyor with boxes to be lidded. Provision is made in the lid nailing machine for quickly disposing the stops 202 and 202 .out ofthe path of boxes which are not to be lidded .so that these will rapidly pass through the machine and then for re-disposing these stops forautomatically operating the machine when :the next box is delivered thereto. Thisoontrol of the stops 262 and 202 ,isaccomplished by seizing either f the bell crank levers I91 or I98 and shifting the shaft I99 to lower the control tracks 26f and 261' as shown in Fig. 12. This moves these tracks away from the rollers 26! and 26! whereby the springs 266 and 266 are permitted to rotate the shafts 226 and 228' and swing the roller mounting arms 2M and 2A6 outwardly, as shown in this figure. When it is desired to restore the stops 262 and 262 to operative positions, the shaft I99 is shifted back to its normal position in which it is shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 14 by manipulation of one of the levers IEil or I68.

The lid pressing and nailing machine 26 is adjustable to handle boxes varying in length, width, and height. To change from lidding a box of one length to lidding a box of a diiferent length involves shifting the nailing units I in and II I on the horizontal superstructure members 36 and shifting the anvil bars 66 and 66 on the nailing table 52. These adjustments are fairly easy of accomplishment because of the nailing units II 6 and III being secured to the frame bars 38 by clamps H3 which can readily be released and then tightened after the adjustment has been made. The same is true of the anvil bars 60 and 66' which are secured in place on the longitudinal nailing table frame members 56 by clamps 62.

It is to be noted that when the anvil bars 66 and 66 are thus shifted to vary their spacing on the nailing table 52, no attention need be paid to the mechanisms 203 and 263 as these are designed to be operative in all adjusted positions of the anvil bars 66 and 60'.

When changing from boxes of on width to a different width the position of the stops 2 62 and 2.32 must be changed, this being accomplished by shifting the blocks 2223 and 226 on the shafts 228 and and adjusting the length of the turn-buckles 2,32 and 262 accordingly. The chucks C which are mounted on the chuck beams ii ii are adjustable longitudinally thereon and the drivers D are liiaewiseslidable on the driver beams 552 as shown in said Paxton patent so that the proper disposition of the drivers and chucks in each of the units I It and I I I can be readily made to properly drive the nails in the lid of the box of lesser width which the machine is being adjusted to accommodate.

The machine .26 canaccommodate boxes varying in height within a certain range without any adjustment by virtue of the use of an elevator for lifting th boxes against the nailing mechanism in order topress and nail a lid on the box.

The machine 26 may be adjusted to vary this range, however, byremoving the bolts 37, shifting the super-structure 23 either upwardly or downwardly relative to the base structure 22 of the machine, and then re-connecting the posts 36 to the base standards 35 and 32 with the bolts til. One of the distinct advantages of the machine 26 is that this adjustment maybe made by supporting the weight of the super-structure 23 on the jack 5t and then by careful manipulation of the foot pedal it] (with a box in engagement with both .01 thestops 236L462) =lift this box upwardly against the chuck .beains I it and until the chuck beams are lifted to their maximum upward position (this being doneafter the snap action rod i6? (Figs. 1 and M) has been disconnected) ,At this pointthe 'footpedal it? which is manipulated so that the jack til just supports the Weight of the super-:structure :23 whereupon the which further manipulation of the foot pedal i8? either lifts the superstructure 23 or lowers this until the nailing mechanism 25 is brought to its new desired vertical relation with the base structure 22 whereupon the assistant replaces the bolts 3! connecting together the posts 36 and the base standards 31 and 32. The vertical adjustment of the nailing mechanism 25 is now complete and the pedal i8! is released, permitting the elevator 52 to return to its downwardmost position, and the snap-action rod it! is re-connected.

Arrival of a box being lidded at its upwardmost position in the lidder 20 causes a sudden increase in the load of the motor 3! during the moment that the box is held in this position prior to the opening of th valve 34. Where it is desired to eliminate this factor in the operation of the lidder 30, a hydraulic system 330, such as is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 13 is substituted for the pump unit 40. This includes a high volume pump 33! and a low volume pump 332 which are continuously driven and are located in the tank 38 and draw liquid therefrom in a similar manner as is the case with pump 59 as shown in Fig. 7. Pump 33! has a discharge line 333 leading to a pilot pressure control cut-out valve 334 which normally discharges through a line 335 having a check valve 333 from which a pipe 33'! leads to valve Hi. The pump 332 discharges into the pipe 387 and the pilot pipe 308 leads from pipe 33? to the pilot control valve 394.

In between lidding cycles the pumps 33! and 302 both discharge liquid through the pipe 33'? and the valve M into the tank 68. When this valve is manipulated to start a iidding cycle, the output of both of the pumps is delivered to the jack G. The volume of liquid discharged per second by the pump 332, however, is only about one-third that discharged by pump 33 l. The resistanc created in the nailing operation to the upward travel of the elevator table increases rapidly during the nailing operation. This increases the pressure in the pilot pipe 338 and the valve 33 is set to be actuated to h y-pass the discharge from pump 33E into the tank 53 at a certain point in the nailing operation where it is desired to start slowing down the upward movement of the elevator table. Actuation of the valve 334 at this point cuts out the pump 3M and allows it to discharg through the valve 304 directly into the tank 3 8 so that the balance of the upward movement of the elevator in that lidding cycle is under the propulsion of the pump 332 alone. As the volume of the liquid delivered by this pump is only one-quarter of the combined volume of the two pumps, the cutting out of pump 30! has the effect of shifting gears from high gear to low gear on an automobile and greatly reduces the load imposed on the motor during the final upward movement of the elevator when the resistance to this movement is at its peak. The change in drive ratio covers such a small portion of the upward movement of the elevator that the use of hydraulic system 330 does not materially slow down the operation and yet it has the effect of smoothing out the load imposed on the motor and the power circuit leading thereto.

Boa: feeding conveyor 315 Although adapted to be fed by hand as above noted, the maximum capacity of the lid press and nailing machine is attained only by associating an automatic box feeding conveyor 3| 5 therewith (Figs. l6, l7, and 18). As indicated in Fig. 16,

this conveyor is placed close to the base structure crossplate 35 so as to discharge boxes therefrom directly onto the lidder conveyor 42. The feed conveyor 315 includes a high speed delivery conveyor section 3i3 which is mounted on legs 3H which rest on the floor. The conveyor 315 also includes an accumulator section 318, one end of which is supported on the section 3l8 and'the other end of which is supported on legs (not shown) which also rest on the floor.

The legs 3!! are telescopic to permit adjustment in the length of these to bring the upper level of the conveyor 3H6 on the same level as the lidder conveyor 32 when the nailing table 52 is in its downward position.

The legs 3|! are connected by crossplates 320 welded thereto and have lateral extensions 32f at their upper ends. Bearings 322 are mounted on inner faces of the legs 3H at their upperends and bearings 323 are mounted on outer faces of said extensions. The legs 3!! are provided with slots 32 and have slide bearings 325 and 326 fixed on their outer faces. Abutment blocks 32? are fixed on the front faces of the legs 3|! opposite the plate 35 of the lidder 2D and are adapted to be brought into contact or very close to this plate to effect proper spacing of the feed conveyor 3; from the lidder 2i).

Journalling in the bearings 322 is a shaft 328 having sprockets 329. Journalling in the bearings 323 is a shaft 332] having sprockets 33I which are connected with sprockets 329 by an endless chain 332. The shaft 330 also carries sprockets 348. Also fixed on the shaft 339 is a sprocket 35 I.

The accumulating conveyor section 3 l 8 has side frame members 3 15 which pivot on the shaft 330 and are provided on the inner faces thereof with chain guides 346 and 341. Conveyor section 3l8 has endless chains 348 which are guided by said guides and which are trained about and driven from the sprockets 340. Extending outwardly from the frame members 345 are box guide mounts 350 which are adjustable in length and carry at their ends members 35! which are welded at their upper ends to box guides 352. Supported on the lower edges of the frame members 335 is a motor mount 353 carrying a motor (not shown), the drive sprocket 354 of which is connected by an endless chain 355 with the sprocket 35! on the shaft 330 (Fig. 16). Pivoted on the motor mount 353 are a pair of links 330 having slots through which bolts 362 extend, the latter securing the upper ends of the links 360 to the legs 3 ll of the conveyor section 3! 3 by permitting a limited amount of rotation of the conveyor section 3E8 relative to the section 3 it within the range permitted by the slots 36!.

Welded to the legs 3|! and extending laterally therefrom are stop mounting brackets 376, each of which includes a pair of plates 37! which are secured together at their upper outer corners by bolts 312 extending through spacers 373. The plates 311 have horizontal slots 334 near their upper edges. Slidably fitting these slots and extending therethrough are bolts 32 5, each of these bolts extending through a sleeve 316 which slidably fits between the plates 31!, said bolt also extending through suitable apertures in flanges 371 of a spring supporting bracket 378 having an aperture 319 at its outer end. Pivotally mounted on each of the sleeves 373 is a stop hub 388 having two arms 38l extending non-vertically downwardly therefrom to rotatably support a roller 382 between their lower ends. Extending vertically upward from each hub 380 is a stop mounting arm 385, the upper end 386 of which is bentinwardly and downwardly slightly therefrom to rotatably carry thereon a stop roller 33?. Welded onto each arm 335 is an arcuate rod 388, the lower end of which extends through the aperture till, a compression spring 389 being coiled about the rod 358 and trapped thereon between the arm 385 and the bracket 318.

Slidable vertically on bars 325 and 32b are shafts Slit, the upper ends of which extend into and are secured in recesses formed in the head pieces 35, there being compression springs 392 coiled about the shafts 3% and trapped thereon between bars 325 and the heads 39!. The heads till extend upwardly in sliding contact with the legs ill and have control tracks 383 formed integrally therewith and extending horizontally therefrom. From each of the control tracks 3% extends the arms 38! of the adjacent stop 3%? and just above the roller 382 so that the expansion of the spring 389 holdes this roller upwardly against this control track. The heads 39! are apertured to receive upper ends of a cross shaft 396, the latter extending outwardly through the holes 3245 in the legs 35?. This shaft is fixed to these heads and has keyed thereon a member 3% lowered position and following the feeding of a .box from the conveyor 315 into the lidder 2d,. the

catch (till rests against the member 395 as shown in Fig. 16.

With the stop mechanism of the feed conveyor 315 positioned as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the stops 38'! are free to swing inward, as they are shown, in front of a box being conveyed on the feed conveyor 315 towards the. machine 28. The

.chains 332 and 248 of the feed conveyor 315 are driven constantly so that a box advanced thereon at this time onto the section 3H5 engages the stops 381 and is held against advancing although the chains 332 continue. to travel beneath the box.

Assuming that in this situation a box is already resting in the machine 20 to be lidded, the latter l is actuated as above described to lid this box, this involving an upward and downward movement of the nailing table 52. As this table returns downwardly, the catch 39? is extended outwardly by the spring 399 so as toengage the upper end of the member 395 and pull this downwardly during a final portion of the downward movement of the elevator table. This depresses the control tracks 393 which act on the rollers to swing the arms 38l so as to rotate the stops till out of the path of the box held thereby on the conveyor section BIB. The withdrawal of stop 38'! results in. this box rapidly discharging from the feed conveyor 3 l onto the lidder conveyor t2. As the box thus discharged passes over the latch 3971, it swings this away from over the member 395, so that the latter is free to rise under the impulsion of the compression springs 392 thereby restoring the stops 381 to their positions in the path of boxes traveling on the conveyor section 3H5.

By virtue of the difference in diameter of the sprockets 3% and 33l the surface speed of the conveyor section 316 is considerably in excess of that of section 318 thereby producing a gap be- 14 tween each box as it is discharged from the conveyor section 3 l6 and the box next following it.

From the foregoing description, it is believed clear that by loosening the bolts 315, thestops Still and their mounting assemblies may be shifted along the slots 314 and re secured to the brackets did with any desired spaced relation between the stops till. The box guides 352 being also adjustably mounted on the conveyor section. 3E8 may be shifted on their mounting pipes 359 so as to alter their spacing to conform to the change eilected in the spacing of the stop 38?. This is clearly indicated by the broken-line representations of the stops 381 and the box guides 352 shown in Fig. 17.

It is to be noted that the control tracks 3% being mounted parallel with the slots 316, are effected to actuate the stops 381 regardless of the adjusted positions in which these stops are mounted on the brackets 310.

What we claim is:

1. In an adjustable lidding' machine, the com bination of: a frame, including a base structure and a super-structure which is disposed upwardly in spaced relation with said base structure; four corner posts provided on said super-structure and extending downward therefrom; means for se curing said posts to said base structure in a vertically adjustable relation therewith; a lid pressing and nailing mechanism provided on said super-structure; an elevator on said base structure including a box supporting table for suporting a box and for elevating the same against said lid pressing and nailing mechanism to accomplish the pressing of a lid onto said box and the nailing of said lid thereto; means for auto matically controlling said elevator to cause it to elevate a box to thus press and nail a lid thereon and to then reverse its upward movement to return downwardly with said box to the starting level; and means for manually controlling said elevator to temporarily support said super-structure on a box resting on said elevator while said securing means is relaxed, and toreposition said super-structure vertically relative to said base structure by the operation of said: manual control means whereby said posts may be re-secured to said base structure to support said super-structure in a new vertical relation with said base structure.

2. In a high speed lidding machine, the combination of a frame including a base structure and a supe -structure which is disposedupwardly in spaced relation with said. base structure; nail drivers extending downwardly from said superstructure in a pair of banks; a pair of chuck beams mounted on said super-structure for vertical sliding movement relative thereto; nail chucks mounted on said chuck beams in sliding relation with said nail" drivers; an elevator on said base structure and including a box supporting table for supporting a box with the ends thereof in the vertical planes of said" chuck beams whereby the elevation of said table by said elevator with a box thereon and a lid disposed thereover presses said lid ends on said box ends by engagement of said lid with said' chuck beams and then lifts said chuck beams to impale said lid and box ends on nails in said chucks; spring means on said super-structure for exerting pressure downwardly against said chuck beams; means automatically reversing the upward. move-- ment of said; elevator upon the completion of the nailing of said lid onto said box, to permit the table and said" box to drop rapidly; and a; dashpot on said super structure" conncted to" said 15 chuck beams to retard the return downwardly of said chuck beams whereby said lidded box moves downwardly out of contact with said chuck beams before said chuck beams return to their normal downward positions.

3. A combination as in claim 2 in which said elevator comprises a hydraulic jack and a pump for pumping liquid thereto; a control valve; stop means responsive to the delivery of a box into said machine to be lidded thereby, to actuate said valve to cause the delivery of liquid from said pump to said jack and the elevation of said box to lid the same as aforesaid, said automatic reversing means having a snap action device including a spring which is compressed by the upward travel of said elevator and released by the final movement of the lidding operation to snap said valve to immediately eifect a relatively free discharge of liquid from said jack whereby said table and box are permitted to return downward rapidly as aforesaid.

4. A combination as in claim 3 in which anvil bars are provided on said elevator table for supporting the ends of said box during said lid pressing and nailing operation, and in which said stop means is mounted on said anvil bars and com" prises a separate stop on each of said bars; means for adjustably securing said bars to said table to permit said bars to be fixed varying distances apart to accommodate boxes of different lengths;

and means connecting said stops to said control valve to cause said stops to be operative as aforesaid to the pressing and nailing of a lid onto a box regardless of changes in the adjusted positions of said anvil bars on said table.

5. A combination as in claim 4 in which means is provided on each of said anvil bars for swinging the stop for that bar outwardly from in front of a box when said elevator table rises; and control tracks disposed to be engaged by said stop swinging means when said elevator returns downwardly to yieldably urge said steps inwardly to their original positions, and to do this regardless of the adjusted positions of said anvil bars on said elevator table.

6. A combination as in claim 5 in which means is provided for shifting said control tracks whereby said stops remain shifted out of the path of a box when said elevator table returns to its lowermost position.

7. In a lidding machine, the combination of:

a frame including a base structure and a superstructure which is disposed upwardly in spaced relation with said base structure; a lid pressing and nailing mechanism provided on said superstructure; structure and including a box supporting table for supporting a box and elevating the same with a lid disposed thereover for pressing said lid on said box and nailing the ends of said lid to the ends of said box; a power conveyor provided on said base structure for conveying a box into said machine and for discharging said box therefrom; anvil bars on said elevator which are disposed beneath and spaced downwardly from the ends of a box thus conveyed into said machine on said conveyor; stops for halting said box in a predetermined position in said machine while still resting on said conveyor; and means for actuating said elevator to lift said anvil bars into a supporting relation with the ends of said box whereby said box is lifted with said table to accomplish the pressing and nailing of said lid onto said box.

8. A combination as in claim '7 in which said anvil bars are adjustable horizontally on said an elevator provided on said base table to accommodate boxes varying in length and in which said stop means includes a stop mounted on each of said anvil bars; and means responsive to engagement of said stops by a box traveling into said machine to actuate said elevator to cause the same to ascend as and for the purposes aforesaid.

9. A combination as in claim 8 in which said stops respond individually to contact of said box therewith, but in which response of both of said stops is requisite to cause the actuation of said elevator as aforesaid.

10. In an automatic lidding machine the combination of: a nailing table; an overhead nailing mechanism including spaced chuck beams carrying nail chucks, and driver bars thereabove carrying drivers, said chucks being slidable on said drivers; a power conveyor associated with said nailing table for rapidly delivering boxes onto and then away from over said table; an elevator for lifting said table with a box thereon to compress a lid between said box and said chuck beams and then lift said beams to impale said box and lid on nails in said chucks; power means; an automatic transmission connecting said power means to said elevator to lift said table at a high drive ratio until said beams are engaged, and then automatically change to a low drive ratio forthe driving of said nails; stop means for halting a box properly positioned over said table for being lidded, said stop means being actuated by said box to engage said transmission and cause said box to be elevated and lidded as aforesaid; means responsive to the completion of the driving of said nails to disengage said transmission, causing said table and box to drop rapidly to their starting level with said box resting on said conveyor; and means responsive to said lidding operation for automatically displacing said stop means from in front of said box to cause the latter to respond to said conveyor and be rapidly discharged from said lidder, said means returning said stop means into the path of the next incoming box when the lidded box is so discharged.

11. A combination as in claim 10 in which said elevator comprises a hydraulic jack and said transmission includes a pump for pumping liquid to said jack; and a valve for delivering liquid from said pump to said jack and for providing a discharge passage for liquid from said jack, said valve being responsive to said stop means when the latter is engaged by a box delivered into said machine to cause the delivery of liquid from said pump to said jack and the elevation of said box to lid the same as aforesaid, said transmission disengaging means having a snap action device including a spring which is compressed by the upward travel of said elevator and released by the final movement of the lidding operation to snap said valve to immediately effect a relatively free discharge of liquid from said jack whereby said table and box are permitted to return downward rapidly as aforesaid.

12. A combination as in claim 11 in which spring means is provided for exerting pressure downwardly against said chuck beams; and a dash pot connected to said chuck beams to retard the return downwardly of said chuck beams whereby said lidded box moves downwardly out of contact with said chuck beams before said chuck beams are allowed by said dash pot to return to their normal downward positions.

13. In a lidding machine the combination of: a frame including a base structure and a superstructure which is disposed upwardly in spaced relation with said base structure; a lid pressing and nailing mechanism provided on said superstructure; a power conveyor mounted on said base structure for rapidly delivering a box into and from said machine; a nailing table mounted on said base structure and including anvils secured thereon outwardly from said conveyor and in adjustable spaced relation therewith so that said anvils are adapted to lie beneath the ends of said box, the adjustability of said anvils adapting said machine for handling boxes varying in length; duplicate stop means mounted on said anvils so as to be shiftable therewith when said anvils are adjusted as to spacing, said stops being positioned on said anvils in the path of a box fed into said machine by said conveyor to halt said box in the proper position for lidding said box, said stop means being independently moved short distances by said box moving into said position; a power mechanism responsive only to the joint movement of said duplicate stop means aforesaid for causing relative vertical movement between said nailing mechanism and said nailing table with a lid disposed over said box to press and nail said lid onto said box, said power mechanism, concurrently with its action aforesaid, causing relative vertical movement between said nailing table and said conveyor whereby the support of said box is transferred from said conveyor onto said 18 anvils with the ends of said box resting on the latter during said lidding operation; means reacting to completion of said lidding operation to effect a reversal of said relative movements culminating in said nailing mechanism and table being restored to their normal spaced relation and in said box being transferred back onto said conveyor; and means responsive to said lidding operation to free said box from said stop means, permitting said box to be rapidly discharged from said machine when the support of said box by said conveyor is resumed.

GARNO E. THORNTON. ERNEST A. VERRINDER. GLENN E. STILWELL. EARLE J. MCGRATH. JOHN R. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,921,008 Shinn Aug. 8, 1933 1,982,711 Vickers Dec. 4, 1934 2,128,963 Paxton Sept. 6, 1938 2,132,516 Paxton Oct. 11, 1938 2,141,549 Paxton Dec. 28, 1938 2,501,933 Binkholder Mar. 28, 1950 

